Aberdeen, Patterson Mill girls back in region basketball title games

Edgewood's Shania Stamper takes to the air looking to make the block as Patterson Mill's Lydia Moro takes a shot in Wednesday night's region semifinal at Patterson Mill.

Edgewood's Shania Stamper takes to the air looking to make the block as Patterson Mill's Lydia Moro takes a shot in Wednesday night's region semifinal at Patterson Mill. (MATT BUTTON, Aegis staff)

RANDY McROBERTS, rmcroberts@theaegis.com

For the second straight year, girls basketball teams from Aberdeen and Patterson Mill will play for region titles after both won lopsided semifinal games Wednesday night.

Aberdeen hosted and rolled over Digital Harbor, 74-40, in Class 3A North action, while Patterson Mill hosted Edgewood and ran away for a 75-30 win in 2A East.

Aberdeen will host City today (Friday) at 6 p.m. for the 3A North title and Patterson Mill will host Queen Anne's at 6:30 p.m. tonight for the 2A East title.

In Patterson Mill's win, the Huskies seemed to be a bit sluggish for much of the first quarter, but once they hit their stride, it was off to the races.

Edgewood led 4-0 early on two Shania Stamper jump shots, while Patterson Mill misfired on a half dozen or more shots, both from close and long range. Finally, Morgan Golec scored on a follow of a miss with 4:15 left in the first quarter. A minute later, Samantha Herman's three-point shot put the Huskies ahead, 5-4, and they never trailed again.

"We always try and work as a team and like my goal is either to get the assist or create the play," Herman said. "I really want to do it for the team and not for myself."

Edgewood struggled to get off decent shots and three fouls to its tallest player, Ladae Boykin, before the end of the period, took away any inside presence the Rams might have had. To make matters worse, Edgewood's best player, Stamper, picked up her third foul in the second quarter and also had to sit.

Patterson Mill took full advantage off Edgewood's problems and raced to 23 second quarter points, while Edgewood was limited to one Jakia Robinson basket.

Patterson Mill threw long pass after long pass to beat the Rams back down the court, cashing in on several easy baskets. "Our game is the long pass and beating them down the court," Herman said. "Get as many fast breaks as we can."

The Huskies led at the half, 35-8, and came out of the intermission firing on all cylinders. Herman drilled her second three pointer of the game and then added another basket to put the game completely away.

Edgewood's two foul-plagued players came back in the second half and combined for 20 of the Rams' 22 second half points. Still, Patterson Mill outscored Edgewood 18-15 in the third quarter and 22-7 in the fourth to settle in on the 45-point victory.

"I'll be honest, Edgewood has athletic girls that can run, they have some speed," Huskies Head Coach Holly Ismail said. "Obviously their transition defense just wasn't there. There's something to say about speed, but then there's something to say about understanding how to get back."

Herman led the Huskies (19-6) with 20 points, while Qalea Ismail pumped in 18 points. Morgan Golec also reached double figures with 12 points and Maya Peguero came off the bench to score eight points.

Stamper led Edgewood (18-8) with 18 points, 14 coming in the second half.

Eagles roll on

In Aberdeen's win, the 3A defending state champs rolled to a 37-18 halftime lead and never looked back. Nazje Norton had the hot hand for the Eagles (22-3), scoring 22 points; 18 came on six-three-point shots.

Stephanie Jones tossed in 20 points for the Eagles and Jimmia McCluskey added 17 points. It was the Eagles second win over Digital Harbor in a little more than a month.